Scottish independance

[scooterscot]

The, corrupt, financial center that helps finance Scotland?

I'll say it again, the Scots would have no chance swimming on their own.
It just wouldn't work.
The people are being led to it by a group of people, with vested interests, who are likely to benefit, greatly, personally, if it did become independent.

Of course Scotland would be fine on it's own. If it's not scare mongering it's love bombing. Make up your mind. Scotland has a blotted public sector that needs culled. It's no business being the size that it is for such a small sexy country. To maintain it would sink it.

I've lived in many small countries, I know how they work. Scotland needs change and the Scottish government are well placed to deliver that. Scotland is rich in resources both natural and people. Listening to people like you would have us believe we're some gelatinous orb on life support.

No government has changed Scotland for the better than the SNP. Political interest has shot through the roof people are interested again rather than just complaining like others. Sure there might be some pain at the start but change would come. And changing what we have is a must.

[d000hg]

I'll say it again, the Scots would have no chance swimming on their own.
It just wouldn't work.

I think that's a daft thing to say. There are plenty of small countries who manage to plod along. I think what you maybe mean to say is Scotland can't continue to function at its current level of wealth and luxury on its own, without significant reinvention?

[scooterscot]

I think that's a daft thing to say. There are plenty of small countries who manage to plod along. I think what you maybe mean to say is Scotland can't continue to function at its current level of wealth and luxury on its own, without significant reinvention?

Which is kind of the point I'm trying to make above. I'm not certain I would not describe the 'current Scotland' as a land of wealth & luxury. Far from it. It upsets me to see the current levels of poverty at home when the state continues to send wods of aid abroad.

[d000hg]

Compared to the rest of the world, Scotland IS wealthy. But they could risk having to give up on a lot of their ideals in terms of welfare, etc, to be sustainable.

Of course Scots might rather have a bit less in their pocket as a price to pay for independence. It's a valid option.

[MrMarkyMark]

If it's not scare mongering it's love bombing. Make up your mind.

I have made up my own mind.
As I said, I believe, there are other agendas at play, there are always vested interests, as far as politicians are concerned.
However, the points about "trimming the fat" are very valid and I take those on board.

I think what you maybe mean to say is Scotland can't continue to function at its current level of wealth and luxury on its own, without significant reinvention?

Exactly this.

Of course Scots might rather have a bit less in their pocket as a price to pay for independence. It's a valid option.

I don't think they really get this part, that's one of my points.

[scooterscot]

Compared to the rest of the world, Scotland IS wealthy. But they could risk having to give up on a lot of their ideals in terms of welfare, etc, to be sustainable.

Of course Scots might rather have a bit less in their pocket as a price to pay for independence. It's a valid option.

No argument there. A realisation that I hope people discover. And would probably tackle the poverty problem at the same time.

[LondonManc]

Of course Scotland would be fine on it's own. If it's not scare mongering it's love bombing. Make up your mind. Scotland has a blotted public sector that needs culled. It's no business being the size that it is for such a small sexy country. To maintain it would sink it.

I've lived in many small countries, I know how they work. Scotland needs change and the Scottish government are well placed to deliver that. Scotland is rich in resources both natural and people. Listening to people like you would have us believe we're some gelatinous orb on life support.

No government has changed Scotland for the better than the SNP. Political interest has shot through the roof people are interested again rather than just complaining like others. Sure there might be some pain at the start but change would come. And changing what we have is a must.

Assuming that you mean bloated, how the hell do you expected to cut public services with a continuity of left-wing governments led by either Labour or SNP?

[scooterscot]

Assuming that you mean bloated, how the hell do you expected to cut public services with a continuity of left-wing governments led by either Labour or SNP?

Yes, typo.

Plenty of small countries manage it. Why can't ours?

Simplification of the entire system would be a good place to start, partially with the tax system.

I don't SNP is as left wing as you might like to think. The recent change to stamp duty have left many out of favour. Although that tends to be those with high value homes. Fair enough. And I say that as an owner of such a home.

[PlummerParsons]

I'm sure the Scots could make a go of it

...it would be a shame to see them go....they have to give the £ back though.

With Cameron's proposed EU reforms I wonder what impact that would have on anyone wanting to work in England.

[tomtomagain]

Plenty of small countries manage it. Why can't ours?

Of course Scotland could manage being an independent country. For me that's not the issue.

There are loads of small countries but simply being a viable country is a very low measure of success.

What is an independent country? For me it's a place with the following:

Security, Rule of Law, Freedom of Speech, Democracy & a market-based economy. Everything else is just policy detail - which comes and goes with political fads and trends.

Scotland has all of those as part of the UK. Separation does not give anything extra to the Scottish people but what it does do is put a massive wedge between Scotland and it's main trading partners.